AUBURN, Alabama – Chad Morris, Auburn’s first-year offensive coordinator, learned the offense that changed his career trajectory from head coach Gus Malzahn when both were high school coaches. But over the years, Morris’ version of the hurryup, no-huddle scheme has gone in some different directions.

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Freshman tight end Brandon Frazier plows ahead in Saturday's scrimmage/ (Photo: Todd Van Emst, Auburn University)

Morris typically likes to throw the ball more often than Malzahn’s offenses have. And tight ends, often bit players in Malzahn’s scheme, are at the very heart of Morris’ offense.

"Tight ends are a big part of who we are and what we do," Morris said earlier this year. "That position is special. You've got to have a guy who can create that mismatch. We've been fortunate that we've been able to have that."

Morris went in search of those kinds of players in his first recruiting class as Auburn’s offensive coordinator. He found Brandon Frazier, 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds in McKinney, Texas, and J.J. Pegues, a freakish athlete at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, in Oxford, Miss. He inherited Luke Deal, a 6-foot-6, 247-pound redshirt freshman; John Samuel Shenker, a 6-foot-2, 241-pound junior; and Tyler Fromm, a 6-foot-5, 237-pound redshirt freshman who is the brother of former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm.

Frazier and Pegues got their first taste of full-pad, full-speed Auburn football in last Saturday’s scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Malzahn said tight ends caught five passes in the scrimmage, and the two freshmen showed him what he wanted to see.

“It’s real hard in one week to say anybody has stood out,” Malzahn said. “The two freshmen coming in, one thing I can tell you is they are as talented as we thought. They have the talent. Now, the experience and getting used to the physicality and everything that goes with it, we’ll have to see how that goes and give them enough scrimmage reps the next couple of weeks.”

Malzahn acknowledged when he hired his old friend that Morris’ offense had branched out from what the days when Malzahn was the head coach at Springdale, Ark., High School and shared his offense with Morris, the head coach at Stephenville (Texas) High School.

“They do some different things than what we do,” Malzahn said before Auburn played Arkansas last season. “It’s similar, but it’s different, too.”

Perhaps no difference is clearer than Morris' belief in throwing the ball to tight ends.

As offensive coordinator in 2009-2011, Malzahn often featured the late Philip Lutzenkirchen, who had 59 career catches for 508 yards and 14 touchdowns, a program record for tight ends. Lutzenkirchen caught the pass that completed a 24-0 comeback at Alabama in the national championship season of 2010. A year later, he caught the winning touchdown pass at South Carolina.

C.J. Uzomah, who plays still for the Cincinnati Bengals, made big plays, too. He caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the final seconds of Malzahn’s first SEC victory over Mississippi State in 2013. He caught a crucial touchdown pass against Alabama that season. But he wasn’t featured in Auburn’s passing game and did more blocking than catching. Signed as a wide receiver, he had 22 career catches as a tight end for 299 yards and six touchdowns.

The numbers tell the story.

Since 2010, as offensive coordinator at Clemson and head coach at SMU and Arkansas, Morris’ tight ends and H-backs have caught 327 passes. In the same period, Malzahn’s tight ends and H-backs have caught 128 passes. Even more telling: In seven seasons as Auburn head coach, Malzahn’s tight ends have caught 69 passes.

“He likes to throw to tight ends,” Malzahn said. “He likes to utilize 11 personnel (one tight end). He uses 12 personnel, which is two tight ends. I think it’s a good change. We have some guys that are competing for those positions.”

Of the tight ends on Auburn’s roster, only Shenker has caught a pass in a game. He caught three passes last season for 21 yards and a touchdown. In 2018, he caught three passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.

Here is a look at Auburn’s tight ends:

JOHN SAMUEL SHENKER, SOPHOMORE

Has six receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons at Auburn … Redshirted as a true freshman in 2017 … Had 30 receptions for 451 yards and two touchdowns as a senior at Colquitt County High School in Albany, Ga. … First-team All-State selection … Also plays for the Auburn baseball team

LUKE DEAL, REDSHIRT FRESHMAN

Played some quarterback in Emerald High School in Greenwood, S.C., passing for 742 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior  passed for 742 yards and eight TD as a senior … Had 332 yards rushing and seven touchdowns and nine receptions with one touchdown. … Redshirted in 2019.

TYLER FROMM, REDSHIRT FRESHMAN

Two-year starter at Warner Robins High School, helping the Demons to the Class 5A state championship title game  … Played in the All-American Bowl … Brother of former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm … Rated the No. 8 tight end nationally by ESPN .

J.J. PEGUES, TRUE FRESHMAN

Unique athlete who could even as a wildcat at 300 pounds … Led Oxford High School to the Mississippi state championship as a senior … Played in the Alabama-Mississippi State All-Star Game … Also lettered in basketball.

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BRANDON FRAZIER, TRUE FRESHMAN

Had 40 receptions for 879 yards and seven touchdown, leading McKinney (Texas) North High School to a district championship … Had 37 receptions for 513 yards and five touchdowns as a junior … District MVP and first-team All-County in basketball … Honor roll student.